WACREP 2015

Wacrep Activities Undertaken in 2015

Progress of the WACREP Media activity.

Filming complete, editing in progress. Clips were view by the PC at its meeting on 4th December. Trailer to be ready for Partners Forum on 21st December. Final video ready before 31st December. 3 More tutorials to be developed with available footing/ material in 2016 as teaching material for WACREP programme.

Bathalgoda New Technology Options programme.

35 Engineering Assistants of the Irrigation Department attended a Workshop on Agronomic Practices In paddy Cultivation to Cope with Climate Change held at the Rice Research and Development Institute Batalagoda on 30th November.. Officers from Ampara, Puttalam, Anuradhapura, Kandy and Kurunegala attended the work shop. Both Director Water Mangement and Director Flood Management of Irrigation and Chair SLWP also attended this workshop.

Farmer Resilience Survey Consultants Report. The Consultant’s Report on taking the recommendations of the Farmer Resilience Survey to a Policy Dialogue in 2016 is now in its final stages.

WACREP FO Leader Programe in Kantale

WACREP FO Leader programme was held in Kantale on 5th 95 FO leaders and 25 PMC staff participated in the programme. Total participation was 13O. This was jointly organized by the Irrigation Department, Dept of Agriculture and the Irrigation Management Division. Though only 80 maximum participants were targeted 120 attended the programme. Almost 30% FO Reps were conversant in Tamil and use of a Ta mil translator was availed of. Translation to Tamil of the CCA FO booklet and the CBO booklet will be undertaken in 2016 as more programmes move to the North and East.

A special Programme Committee Meeting was held on 14th September to discuss regarding the WACREP Media Programme. Activity Leader for activity ( KA) and SLWP Consultant visited the Dept of Agriculture on 29th August and 9th September and to discuss format/ content of video and obtain library shots for film. This will be done jointly with the audio Visual unit of the Department.

WACREP New Technology Programme – Bathalagoda

WACREP programme activity on New Technology Options was held at Bathalagoda Rice Research and Development Institute on 31st August for 40 Patrticipants including 22 Project Managers of IMD and Divisional Staff of Department of Agrarians Development and Irrigation Department of NWP. Progarmme focused on Agronomic practices in paddy cultivation to cope with climate change. These are follow up progarmmes held at Maha Illupallama and Angunakolapellessa FCRI.

Two school programmes were held in Anuradhapura district on 11th and 12th On 11th the programme was held in Kebithigollewa Madya Maha Vidyalaya and total of 183 participated including 4 teachers. On 12th the programme was held in Kahatagasdigiliya Madya Maha Vidyalaya and total of 162 participated including 12 teachers.

Resource persons from National Water Supply and Drainage Board and Provincial Health Department participated the programme and introduction to Climate Change, Proper use of drinking water, water quality and water born diseases were discussed in both programmes.

A CCA awareness programme was held for Project Managers, Development Officers and Development Assistants of the Irrigation Mangement Division projects in Puttalam, Kurunegala and Anuradhapura.on 26th March at the Field Crop Research Institute ( FRCDI) of the Dept of Agriculture at Maha Illuppallama. 28 officers Project officials participated the programme of a total of 37 participants. The Director of FRCDI Dr S Weerakoon and Dr Ajanatha De Silva Addl Director conducted the programme. This is a follow up to programmes for farmer leaders conducted in Phase 1. At present farmers are receiving advice only from vendors of sprinkler/drip equipmwnt and are thus tied to brand names and products. Over 50% saving in costs are possible with local perchase and project Staff will take action to promote this at the PMC regularly

Awareness Programme on CCA for Irrigation Project Staff in Anuradhapura District

Sri Lanka Water Partnership in collaboration with Irrigation Management Division of Ministry of Irrigation organized a Climate Change Awareness Programme on 16th March for Project Committee members of Nachaduwa, Nuwara Wewa, Thissa Wewa, Mahakanadarawa, Mahawilachchiya, Hurulu Wewa, Padaviya and Wahalkada Major Irrigation Schemes. The Programme was held on 16th March at Conference Hall of the Dept of Agrarian Development Anurahapura There were 95 participants for the full day programme including 75 officers from the Irrigation, Agriculture, Agrarian Development Departments, Coconut Development Board and Project Managers and Development Officers of Irrigation Management Division (IMD) attached to the above projects participated. Programme was organized jointly by SLWP and IMD of the Ministry of Irrigation and Agriculture. Resource persons were from the Irrigation Department, IMD, Agriculture Dept and the University of Rajarata.

This was joint sponsorship fron WWD last year. Road shows and Marches of FO Organisations and students were organized by Resident Project mangers of Nuwara Wewa In Anurahadhapura and in Batahalagoda in Kurunegala. Nearly 1000 participated in both events . SLWP contributed to providing posters and flyers for the programme as the sponsor. SLWP Also contributed 125 “Water Cycle” posters for WWD School to be distributed by the Irrigation Mangement Division in their national WWD programmes in districts.

The Programme was organized by the Sri Lanka Water Partnership in collaboration with National Water Supply and Drainage Board and The National Community Water Trust and held on 12th and 13th March. The Programmes were focused on the climate change and the effect of the climate change on water supply and the rural community with the Drinking water CBO as target groups. They also discussed health issues related to climate change and issues the community has on adapting to climate change. The resource person included from an engineer, a senior chemist and sociologist from National Water Supply and Drainage Board, Regional Epidemiologist from regional health department and a forest officer. Total of 56 including resource persons on 12th (Passara Programme) and 46 including resource persons on 13th (Welimada Programme) participated in the programmes.

Awareness Programme on CCA for Irrigation Project Staff in Polonnaruwa District

A CCA programme for Project Management Committee Staff of Giritale, Minneriya and Kaudulla Major Irrigation Schemes was held on 27th February at the Divisional Secretariat Conference Hall Hingurakgoda. There were 71 participants for the full day programme including 65 officers from the Irrigation, Agriculture, Agrarian Development Departments, Coconut Development Board and Project Mangers and Development Officers of Irrigation Management Division (IMD) attached to the above projects participated.
Programme was organized jointly by SLWP and IMD of the Ministry of Irrigation and Agriculture. Resource persons included a Consultant Irrigation Agronomist, Chief Engineer Irrigation Office Polonnaruwa, Deputy Director Agriculture and a Senior Lecturer from the University of Rajarata . SLWP was Represented by the Country Coordinator and Consultant, IMD by the Actg Director who is also presently the Addl Director General Irrigation Department and the Monitoring Officer of IMD. Topics addressed included CC impacts on Water Resources and Rural Livelihoods, CC impacts on Irrigation Water Management, Cropping Practices to cope with CC and Adoption of New Technology as a CCA option.